Danaher in to face Sarries

LONDON IRISH have dropped skipper Ryan Strudwick to the bench for Sunday's vital Zurich Premiership clash with Saracens at Madejski Stadium (3pm).

The big South African, now in his third season leading the side, has been playing in the back row for the past two games but was expected to return to the second row.

However, he went down with flu in midweek so Nick Kennedy keeps his place in the second row alongside the super-charged Bob Casey with flanker Declan Danaher taking over from Strudwick on the blind-side.

It's one of four changes to the side beaten at London Wasps last Sunday, with No. 8 Phil Murphy returning to the starting line-up at the expense of Keiran Roach.

Behind the scrum Irish will be without wing Paul Sackey, who turned an ankle in training, so Scott Staniforth reverts to the left wing and fit-again Michael Horak plays his first league match of the season.

There were also worries over left wing Justin Bishop's fitness in midweek having been forced out of the Wasps game after just 35 minutes but he's been passed fit to play.

The Ireland international has suffered a torrid start to the season, missing the opening games with a hamstring problem, but is looking forward to a return to Madejski Stadium.

He said: "It's a great stadium to play in - one of the best in Europe.

"I think there will also be a knock-on effect with Reading FC playing so well at the moment and I definitely think people will come down who don't really know the game because of it."

It's a must win game for Irish , paticularly as the ‘Men in Black' are struggling to integrate all the new players they signed in the summer.

Bishop said: "They've signed a lot of experienced internationals and great ball carriers but they've not come together and gelled.

"But we've lost three in a row and no team likes to do that - it leads to a dip in confidence and we've got to win at home."

Sarries are led by new recruit and lock Hugh Vyvyan while the rest of the team is peppered with star names, including England World Cup winning flanker Richard Hill.

Former All Black Taine Randell also plays in the back row and they have ex-France hooker Raphael Ibanez in the front-row.

Full back Dan Scarbrough is another newcomer while a player to watch out for is right wing Richard Haughton.

"You don't come up against average wingers anymore in the Premiership," said Bishop. "One week it's Richard Haughton, next week it's Bruce Reihana."